Britney Spears no longer has an excuse.
For years Spears' apologists have been using her youth to justify the utter crap that is her music. But here we have a 19-year-old singer/songwriter, Blair Hansen (http://www.blairhansen.com), who has produced an album so mature and rich with texture that it makes Spears look even more like a talentless buffoon. Yes, that's harsh; however, when you hear a singer as emotionally gripping as Hansen, it raises the bar on what artists in her age group are capable of.
From the first spin it became obvious - shockingly so, considering she's still a kid - that "Smile" is among the year's best albums. Expecting a mellow pop record, I was floored by the opening track, "Listen." Reminiscent of Sheryl Crow's upbeat numbers, "Listen" is an uplifting blast of acoustic guitars and sizzling wah-wah riffs.
|
The reflective "Road Song" takes the album in a different direction with its mournful strings while the hauntingly pretty "Dance My Way," possibly a lament for a lost loved one, is the album's first masterpiece. Hansen's vocals on "Dance My Way" break the heart, evoking real tears.
There are good records.
There are great records.
"Smile" is something better: A special record.
It touches the heart as it warms the soul.
|
